Its residents were forced to leave by an underground fire that's been burning beneath the town for over 50 years.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DXSpkHFXkAA8ird.jpg)
The stock market crash in 1929 closed many of these, but bootleg miners still continued to operate in some of the derelict mines.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DXSpmP_X0AAqR-L.jpg)
The landfill was located in the remains of an old coal mine, & the fire quickly spread into the labyrinth of tunnels beneath the town.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DXSpmtzX0AAeR6q.jpg)
In 1979, a local gas-station owner used a dipstick to check the fuel level of his underground tanks.
When he withdrew it, it seemed hot. He lowered a thermometer into the tank on a string and discovered that it was 78 °C inside.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DXSpnJ9X4AAxijg.jpg)
His cousin managed up pull him out just in time, but gases emanating from the fissure were found to contain a lethal level of carbon monoxide.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DXSpnnRWsAANGI4.jpg)
The activity of bootleg miners had caused many of the tunnels to collapse, making access to them very difficult.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DXSpn_SX0AAgcni.jpg)
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DXSpoMyW4AEstRN.jpg)
1,000 people moved out, & 500 houses were demolished.
Centralia's ZIP code was discontinued by the postal service in 2002.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DXSpouZXUAAU4to.jpg)
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DXSppmSX0AAua6C.jpg)
The ground and especially the highway is hot to the touch.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DXSpqFBWsAA1mZX.jpg)
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DXSpq4OW0AAzo1q.jpg)
It has reached a depth of over 90m, and stretches across a 13km area that grows every year.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DXSpr3AXUAAoznv.jpg)
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DXSpsVpW4AA8X4d.jpg)
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DXSptncWkAA1uDO.jpg)
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DXSpui4XcAEtcVW.jpg)
Its grid system & a section of highway warped & buckled by the heat is all the remains.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DXSpv_-WsAAXydL.jpg)
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DXSpyLPXkAAU0_0.jpg)